SSAFA’s Glasgow’s Helping Heroes (GHH) is expanding its support for the Royal Navy community at HMNB Clyde – commonly known as Faslane – after securing almost £50,000 over two years to build on its work with serving families. The funding has been awarded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT), following a successful project it funded in 2025.
The grant has been made through the AFCFT’s “Apart Not Alone” programme, which supports initiatives that help reduce isolation and improve quality of life for those affected by separation and mobility during service life.
Through GHH – a partnership between Glasgow City Council and SSAFA – the project will help improve the mental health and wellbeing of serving families. It aims to tackle this by reducing loneliness and easing the pressures of deployment and post-deployment reintegration, while continuing to build effective models of support, aims in line with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Faslane families can face long and frequent separations, often with limited communication during deployments, which often places significant pressure on partners who take full responsibility for home life.
Shaped by beneficiary feedback, the renewed project will combine social opportunities, specialist one-to-one support delivered by GHH, and expert talks, including from the Defence Medical Welfare Service.
To create a more sustainable model, the service will transition to a SSAFA Serving Community Team approach, with volunteers from the Royal Navy community providing social and practical support to peers under SSAFA oversight and continuing assistance. This will help individuals and families shape and strengthen the support available in their own community, with the aim of leaving a legacy post-project.
Sy Harty, GHH’s Service Manager, said:
“I’m really proud that this grant recognises the impact SSAFA’s Glasgow’s Helping Heroes provides to Royal Navy families at HMNB Clyde.
“It allows us to build on what families have told us matters, including the need for safe, regular opportunities to connect with others who understand life around deployment.
“People tell us they feel less isolated, and more supported about mental health before, during, and after deployment. And, because it’s a peer-led model that strengthens the community, this will continue long after the project ends.”
For the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, Anna Wright, its CEO, said:
“The emotional and practical challenges of dealing with times of separation in service life – whatever that looks like for your family – can be enormous. We’re delighted that these latest grants in this programme will enable Glasgow’s Helping Heroes to help even more families to help each other: tapping into the things that fuel their strength and resilience until they can be together again.”
To learn more about the support Glasgow’s Helping Heroes provides in the city and close surrounding areas, search for “SSAFA GHH” or click here.
